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{{Expand French|Juan Branco|date=April 2023}} | |||
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{{short description|French-Spanish lawyer, writer and political activist}} | {{short description|French-Spanish lawyer, writer and political activist}} | ||
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'''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}) |
'''Juan Branco''' ({{IPA-es|ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko}}, {{IPA-fr|bʁɑ̃ko|lang}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈbɾɐ̃ko|lang}}) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer. | ||
He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book ''Crépuscule'', critical of French President ], and in early 2020, with his involvement in the ]. He has been a supporter of the ]. | He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book ''Crépuscule'', critical of French President ], and in early 2020, with his involvement in the ]. He has been a supporter of the ]. | ||
== Early life == | == Early life and education == | ||
Branco was born in 1989 in ], near Málaga. He is the son of film producer ].{{cn|date=December 2022}} | |||
Born in Spain in 1989, in the municipality of ], ], Juan Branco is the son of Portuguese film producer ] and Spanish psychoanalyst Dolores López. He grew up in Andalusia and then in Paris, between the ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco désosse Macron {{!}} Entretiens |url=https://la-bas.org/la-bas-magazine/entretiens/Juan-Branco-desosse-Macron |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Là-bas si j'y suis |language=fr}}</ref> He has two sisters and a brother.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Santucci |first=Françoise-Marie |title=Le joueur des chèques. |url=https://www.liberation.fr/portrait/1999/05/13/le-joueur-des-cheques_272787/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref>. He was naturalized French in 2010.<ref>Endeweld 2013</ref> | |||
He |
He went to the ], a private high school in Paris.<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html|title = Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie|date = 11 February 2019}}</ref> He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the ] neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like ].<ref name="lefigaro.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/juan-branco-itineraire-d-un-enfant-gate-devenu-activiste-sans-scrupule-20200218|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule|date=18 February 2020}}</ref> | ||
He studied as an undergraduate at ] and as a graduate and PhD student at the ], where he was "auditeur libre" (]).<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/><ref>Student of the École Normale Supérieure ("Élève de l'École Normale Supérieure") is an administraative position that requires to having succeded a highly selective ], and provides a ]. Other people who are allowed studying at the École Normale Supérieure have the status of "auditeur libre".</ref> | |||
== Education == | |||
After an education spent in public schools,<ref>Mariel Primois Bizot, Au Diable Vauvert, October 3, 2019, ISBN 979-10-307-0304-7, p. 128</ref> Branco studied at the ], a private establishment in the 6th arrondissement. In his own words, "one can reproduce and socialize there without fear of being contaminated by bad company". He also claimed to have "great contempt for the conformism of all these heirs".<ref name=":0" /> He used ] to comment on the physique of his comrades; his comrade ] complained of his actions to the management of the establishment.<ref name="lexpress.fr">{{Cite web |date=11 February 2019 |title=Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie |url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/juan-branco-le-radical-chic-qui-veut-la-peau-de-la-macronie_2061348.html}}</ref> | |||
He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months, and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|title = Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 7 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php|title = Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain|date = 10 June 2021}}</ref> | |||
In 2007, he joined ] (IEP) where he relaunched the film club and was noticed by the director of the establishment, ], who entrusted him with the mission of taking photos to feed his ] account.<ref name=":0" /> Years after he was asked by his widow to deliver a eulogy on behalf of the school's students at his funeral, he said, "All the flattery was instrumental, aimed at absorbing me to make me serve the system".<ref name=":0" /> During his studies at the IEP, he obtained a ] in philosophy and law co-accredited by the ] in 2009,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Juan Branco {{!}} Yale University - Academia.edu |url=https://yale-academia-edu.translate.goog/JuanBranco/CurriculumVitae?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=yale-academia-edu.translate.goog}}</ref> following which he was admitted to the literature and languages department of the ] (ENS Ulm) the same year,<ref name="lexpress.fr" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=L'annuaire {{!}} a-Ulm |url=https://www-archicubes-ens-fr.translate.goog/lannuaire?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=www-archicubes-ens-fr.translate.goog}}</ref> and finished his bachelor's degree from the IEP the following year.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
He obtained an M1 in modern literature in 2011, followed by an M2 in political philosophy and a Masters in public affairs in 2012, accredited by the ] and the IEP of Paris respectively.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=MERCIER |first=Clémentine |date=2016-04-10 |title=À 26 ans, Juan Branco conseille les plus grands |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/societe/justice/26-ans-juan-branco-conseille-les-plus-grands-4155418 |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Ouest-France.fr |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":2"></ref> The following year, he obtained an M2 in geopolitics co-accredited by the ENS Ulm and the University of Paris 1, and became an ] of the ENS.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
Under the guidance of legal historian ], he began a doctorate in international law and legal philosophy. His thesis, defended at the ENS Ulm eight months later, gave him the title of ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-16 |title=Max Planck Institute Luxembourg: Juan Branco |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516184101/http://www.mpi.lu:80/the-institute/senior-research-fellows/juan-branco/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |title=De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global : un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale |url=https://www.theses.fr/2014ENSU0004 |publisher=Paris, Ecole normale supérieure |date=2014-11-26 |degree=These de doctorat |first=Juan |last=Branco}}</ref> His work on the ] was rewarded in 2015 with one of the thesis prizes from the Varenne University Institute — which became the Louis-Joinet Prize — in the “international criminal justice” category.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=Lauréats 2015 {{!}} Prix Joinet - IFJD |url=https://prix-joinet.ifjd.org/laureats-2015-prix-joinet/ |access-date=2023-05-04 |language=fr-FR}}</ref> | |||
This doctorate obtained in eight months allows him to join a regional training center for the profession of lawyer (CRFPA) without going through the very selective entrance exam to the law school.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 June 2021 |title=Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/societe/juan-branco-un-tiers-maudit-deux-tiers-mondain-10-06-2021-2430404_23.php}}</ref> | |||
In 2019, '']'' reported that he mentioned on his ] "in charge of a seminar at the École Normale Supérieure", which he was not. Branco replied to the weekly, "It changes absolutely nothing in the facts, whether it is organized by a student or not."<ref name="lexpress.fr" /><ref name=":0" /> | |||
== Career == | |||
He worked as an external collaborator at the ] for a year.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
Employed in the French department of ] between 2013 and 2014, he became a visiting scholar at ],<ref name=":2" /> where he collaborated with the '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Law Journal |url=https://www.yjil.org/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=International Law Journal |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2015, he was recruited as ''Senior Research Fellow'' at the ''] Luxembourg for Procedural Law'', whose director is ], one of the rapporteurs of his thesis.<ref></ref> He earns eight thousand euros in salary there and specifies on this subject: “I did not know what to do with it. It was a bit unsettling”.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
At the same time, after collaborating with the organization as a volunteer for a few months, he joined the defense team of ] and ] under the direction of ].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-27 |title=Juan Branco, l'homme dans l'ombre de Julien Assange - Le Supplément du 27/03 - CANAL+ - Vidéo Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40adfd |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}</ref> As a legal adviser, he then represented the organization publicly, notably during the ] in 2015, relating to the presidents of the French Republic as well as to its large companies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=Alissa J. |last2=Shane |first2=Scott |date=2015-06-24 |title=Hollande Condemns Spying by U.S., but Not Too Harshly |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/world/europe/wikileaks-us-spying-france.html |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He participated in diplomatic negotiations to obtain the right of asylum for Assange, which the ] eventually refused.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guiton |first=Amaelle |title=Hollande ne veut pas accueillir Assange |url=https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2015/07/03/hollande-ne-veut-pas-accueillir-assange_1342691/ |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Citation |title=Retour sur nos enquêtes : FranceLeaks et Wikileaks |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUjGqixYKlU |access-date=2023-05-05 |language=en}}</ref> Described by '']'' as "the man in the shadows" of Assange,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-27 |title=Juan Branco, l'homme dans l'ombre de Julien Assange - Le Supplément du 27/03 - CANAL+ - Vidéo Dailymotion |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x40adfd |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Dailymotion |language=en}}</ref> responsible in particular for procedures with the ] and relations with certain States,<ref name=":4" /> he described on numerous occasions the risks inherent in working with WikiLeaks,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mediapart |first=Les invités de |title=L’inévitable radicalisation de WikiLeaks et les graves défaillances de notre société informationnelle |url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/edition/les-invites-de-mediapart/article/020916/l-inevitable-radicalisation-de-wikileaks-et-les-graves-defaillances-de-notr |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Mediapart |language=fr}}</ref> particularly in contact with intelligence agencies, and defined the organization as a "World Library of Power Devices".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kilpeläinen |first=Minna |date=2017-08-08 |title=WikiLeaks is a Sieve |url=https://medium.com/@minnaliik/wikileaks-is-a-sieve-3beda99e557d |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> | |||
== Political activity == | == Political activity == | ||
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Afterwards he supported ] and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President ] (]). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications ], who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election. | Afterwards he supported ] and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President ] (]). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications ], who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election. | ||
Branco then joined the left-wing populist party ]. He stood in the ] for ] where he placed fourth. His former running |
Branco then joined the left-wing populist party ]. He stood in the ] for ] where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss".<ref name="Tabet 20–23"/> After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of ] in the ] his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.<ref name="francetvinfo.fr"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Politique/Juan-Branco-l-avocat-qui-intrigue-1677637|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue}}</ref> | ||
He became a vocal supporter of the ], some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle,<ref name="lefigaro.fr"/> and a critic of President ] thereafter.<ref |
He became a vocal supporter of the ], some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle,<ref name="lefigaro.fr"/> and a critic of ] ] thereafter.<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=2019-05-07|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-30|website=Franceinfo|language=french}}</ref> | ||
In 2018 he ] the homosexuality of his former |
In 2018 he ] the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman ] on Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lincorrect.org/nous-serons-probablement-demain-lun-et-lautre-des-ennemis-principiels-juan-branco/|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels |date=17 January 2019}}</ref> | ||
=== ''Crépuscule'' === | === ''Crépuscule'' === | ||
Branco's book ''Crépuscule'', in which he criticized Emmanuel Macron, was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full|title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019|title = "Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco| date=11 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias|title = "Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"|date = 26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique|title = "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis|date = 6 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html|title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco|date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco|title = Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 17 April 2019}}</ref> | Branco's book ''Crépuscule'', in which he criticized the French president ], was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/culture-idees/250419/crepuscule-juan-branco-decouvre-la-lune?onglet=full|title=Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.franceculture.fr/emissions/avis-critique/avis-critique-emission-du-samedi-11-mai-2019|title = "Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco| date=11 May 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slate.fr/story/176217/livre-crepuscule-juan-branco-fact-checking-pouvoir-emmanuel-macron-politique-medias|title = "Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"|date = 26 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marianne.net/culture/crepuscule-juan-branco-livre-critique|title = "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis|date = 6 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/critique-des-medias-attaques-sur-macron-on-a-lu-crepuscule-le-livre-censure-de-juan-branco_3403909.html|title=Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco|date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/opinions/peur-revolutionnaire-juan-branco|title = Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 17 April 2019}}</ref> | ||
== Legal advice and representations == | == Legal advice and representations == | ||
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Branco passed the bar in 2017 and had three clients in the next two years, including his father, and was receiving welfare assistance ('']'') during that time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html|title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco|date=29 April 2019}}</ref> | Branco passed the bar in 2017 and had three clients in the next two years, including his father, and was receiving welfare assistance ('']'') during that time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/les-reponses-de-l-express-a-juan-branco_2074447.html|title=Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco|date=29 April 2019}}</ref> | ||
He represented his father and prevailed against ] in '']'' case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/paris-appeals-court-rules-in-favour-of-paulo-branco-on-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/5130200.article|title=Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'|work=Screen|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref> | He represented his father ] and prevailed against ] in '']'' case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.screendaily.com/paris-appeals-court-rules-in-favour-of-paulo-branco-on-the-man-who-killed-don-quixote/5130200.article|title=Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'|work=Screen|access-date=2018-06-18|language=en}}</ref> | ||
In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the ] cyberbullying case.<ref>{{cite news |title=France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-religion-islam-technology-37d079cbf54c3b9880305f2fb2365a11 |access-date=1 November 2022 |work=] |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> | In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the ] cyberbullying case.<ref>{{cite news |title=France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam |url=https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-religion-islam-technology-37d079cbf54c3b9880305f2fb2365a11 |access-date=1 November 2022 |work=] |date=7 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
=== Griveaux affair === | === Griveaux affair === | ||
In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist ] |
In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist ] both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting ], then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Branco was involved in the leak,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/videos-intimes-de-griveaux-le-role-trouble-de-juan-branco-14-02-2020-2362721_20.php|title=Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco|website=lepoint.fr|date=14 February 2020|language=fr|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> a criminal offense under French law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/france-shrugs-at-sex-scandals-but-after-a-leaked-video-this-politician-bowed-out/2020/02/14/263256c0-4f0f-11ea-967b-e074d302c7d4_story.html|title=France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out. |website=washingtonpost.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-29}}</ref> This was denied by Branco. | ||
Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/piotr-pavlenski-dans-les-coulisses-de-sa-soiree-du-31-decembre-2019-29-02-2020-8269833.php|title = Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris|date = 29 February 2020}}</ref> | Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/piotr-pavlenski-dans-les-coulisses-de-sa-soiree-du-31-decembre-2019-29-02-2020-8269833.php|title = Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris|date = 29 February 2020}}</ref> | ||
After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French |
After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found, but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance".<ref>{{cite web|title=Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/affaire-griveaux-le-batonnier-de-paris-demande-a-branco-de-ne-pas-defendre-pavlenski-19-02-2020-2363332_2386.php|website=lepoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-02-19|access-date=2020-03-07|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more.<ref>{{cite web|title=Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux|url=https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/justice/branco-redevient-avocat-de-pavlenski-et-demande-une-expertise-psychiatrique-de-griveaux_2120123.html|website=LExpress.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-05|access-date=2020-03-05|publication-date=}}</ref> Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lepoint.fr/justice/griveaux-la-justice-refuse-l-expertise-psychiatrique-demandee-par-branco-11-03-2020-2366834_2386.php#xtmc=branco&xtnp=1&xtcr=4|website=LePoint.fr|language=fr|date=2020-03-12|access-date=2020-04-01|title=Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco}}</ref> | ||
In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings were being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html|website=nouvelobs.com|language=fr|date=2020-10-08|access-date=2020-12-17|title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco}}</ref> | In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings were being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/societe/20201008.OBS34478/l-ordre-des-avocats-lance-des-poursuites-disciplinaires-contre-juan-branco.html|website=nouvelobs.com|language=fr|date=2020-10-08|access-date=2020-12-17|title=L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco}}</ref> | ||
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== Controversial claims == | == Controversial claims == | ||
Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications ],<ref name="ReferenceB"/> but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" |
Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications ],<ref name="ReferenceB"/> but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She described him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful" and as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".<ref name="francetvinfo.fr">{{Cite web|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/economie/transports/gilets-jaunes/des-grandes-ecoles-aux-gilets-jaunes-en-passant-par-wikileaks-qui-est-juan-branco-l-auteur-de-crepuscule-en-guerre-contre-macron_3421861.html|language=fr|access-date=2020-03-08|title=Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?|date=7 May 2019}}</ref> | ||
In 2016 he solicited ], the only surviving member of the group directly involved in ] (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing Julian Assange.<ref name="Abdeslam">{{cite web|title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam|url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341|website=valeursactuelles.com|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller|url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425|website=rtl.fr|date=22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.<ref>{{cite web|title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat|url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1582648688|website=marianne.net|date=25 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> | In 2016 he solicited ], the only surviving member of the group directly involved in ] (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing ].<ref name="Abdeslam">{{cite web|title=Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam|url=https://www.valeursactuelles.com/societe/exclusif-quand-juan-branco-ecrivait-salah-abdeslam-116341|website=valeursactuelles.com|date=22 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller|url=https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/juan-branco-l-avocat-a-ecrit-une-lettre-a-salah-abdeslam-pour-le-conseiller-7800142425|website=rtl.fr|date=22 February 2020|access-date=23 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.<ref>{{cite web|title="C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat|url=https://www.marianne.net/societe/c-est-un-exercice-illegal-quand-il-sollicite-le-terroriste-abdeslam-juan-branco-n-est-pas?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1582648688|website=marianne.net|date=25 February 2020|publication-date=}}.</ref> | ||
In 2018, ''L'Express'' stated that Branco was making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, ''L'Express'' provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told ''L'Express'' that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school had to do. He also claimed "never having created a ]", but ''L'Express'' provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").<ref name="ReferenceB"/> | In 2018, ''L'Express'' stated that Branco was making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, ''L'Express'' provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told ''L'Express'' that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school had to do. He also claimed "never having created a ]", but ''L'Express'' provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").<ref name="ReferenceB"/> | ||
Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the ]. Asked for a clarification by the French journal ''GQ France'', the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".<ref |
Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the ]. Asked for a clarification by the French journal ''GQ France'', the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".<ref>{{Cite magazine |magazine=] |edition=French |language=FR |url=https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco|title = Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?|date = 25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021044523/https://www.gqmagazine.fr/pop-culture/article/les-vies-revees-de-juan-branco |archive-date=2021-10-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (]) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of ] - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un/un-fires-central-africa-legal-adviser-who-accused-peacekeepers-of-massacre-idUSKCN1IW265 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre | In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (]) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of ] - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-un/un-fires-central-africa-legal-adviser-who-accused-peacekeepers-of-massacre-idUSKCN1IW265 |title=U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre |
Revision as of 14:08, 5 May 2023
French-Spanish lawyer, writer and political activistJuan Branco | |
---|---|
Branco in 2019 | |
Born | 1989 (age 34–35) Estepona, Andalusia, Spain |
Nationality | French, Spanish |
Education | Sciences Po Audit student at École normale supérieure (Paris) |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Father | Paulo Branco |
Juan Branco (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxwan ˈbɾaŋko], French: [bʁɑ̃ko], Portuguese: [ˈbɾɐ̃ko]) is a French political activist, writer and lawyer.
He gained notoriety in 2019 with his book Crépuscule, critical of French President Emmanuel Macron, and in early 2020, with his involvement in the Griveaux affair. He has been a supporter of the Yellow vests movement.
Early life and education
Branco was born in 1989 in Estepona, near Málaga. He is the son of film producer Paulo Branco.
He went to the École alsacienne, a private high school in Paris. He is said to have had a "golden childhood" in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood of Paris, being acquainted to stars like Catherine Deneuve.
He studied as an undergraduate at Sciences Po and as a graduate and PhD student at the École normale supérieure, where he was "auditeur libre" (audit student).
He wrote his thesis at the École normale supérieure in 8 months, and this let him become a lawyer without having to pass the selective exam to enter in the school for lawyers.
Political activity
As a student, Branco actively supported former right-wing Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, a friend of his mother's.
Afterwards he supported The Greens (France) and then went on to participate in the campaign of future President François Hollande (Socialist Party). He worked several months during the campaign for future French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, who refused him a position of chief of staff after the election.
Branco then joined the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise. He stood in the 2017 French legislative election for Seine-Saint-Denis's 12th constituency where he placed fourth. His former running-mate stated that Branco "wanted to win a parliamentary seat and abandoned the party after the loss". After he was refused a sufficiently high spot on the electoral list of La France Insoumise in the 2019 European Parliament election in France his support for the party ended and he called for an abstention in the election.
He became a vocal supporter of the Yellow vests movement, some of whose members he also represented in court, including Maxime Nicolle, and a critic of President of France Emmanuel Macron thereafter.
In 2018 he outed the homosexuality of his former class-mate and government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Twitter.
Crépuscule
Branco's book Crépuscule, in which he criticized the French president Emmanuel Macron, was published in 2019. It was commercially successful but received mostly negative reviews in the French press.
Legal advice and representations
In 2015, Branco was the legal advisor to WikiLeaks and met with Julian Assange, trying to help obtain asylum for Assange in France.
Branco passed the bar in 2017 and had three clients in the next two years, including his father, and was receiving welfare assistance (Revenu de solidarité active) during that time.
He represented his father Paulo Branco and prevailed against Terry Gilliam in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote case.
In 2021, he represented one of the defendants in the Mila affair cyberbullying case.
Griveaux affair
In February 2020 it was reported that he was representing the Russian activist Petr Pavlensky both before and after the latter leaked sexually explicit videos depicting Benjamin Griveaux, then candidate in the mayoral elections for Paris. Multiple sources claim that Branco was involved in the leak, a criminal offense under French law. This was denied by Branco.
Pavlensky was arrested on 14 February 2020 for stabbing two people during a New Year's Eve party organized by Branco and his girlfriend in a Paris flat owned by the latters' parents.
After Branco was hired by Pavlensky as his defense attorney, the chairman of the French bar association opened an inquiry into the appropriateness of the defense in light of Branco's involvement in the affair. No conflict of interest was found, but Branco was advised to step down as Pavlensky's defense attorney nonetheless due to a "lack of distance". Branco originally followed the advice but later reverted his decision and joined the defense of Pavlensky once more. Branco went on to request a psychological evaluation of Griveaux, the victim of the alleged crime, whose defense called the request "grotesque and hateful". The request was denied by the examining magistrate as it was deemed "not useful for the establishment of the truth".
In October 2020, it was reported that disciplinary proceedings were being pursued against Branco by the Paris Bar Association following his involvement in the affair.
Controversial claims
Branco claimed to have been chief of staff of the French Minister of Culture and Communications Aurélie Filippetti, but Filippetti denied it. She later stated that he "demanded to be hired as her chief of staff at age 22", that he "completely lost it when he was refused the position" and told her that he recorded their conversations. She described him as "dangerous, intelligent and skillful" and as "megalomaniacal, a compulsive liar and very, very manipulative".
In 2016 he solicited Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the group directly involved in the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015 (in which 130 people were killed and 683 others were injured), proposing in a letter to help in his legal defense and claiming to be representing Julian Assange. As he was not admitted to the bar and therefore not legally permitted to practice law at the time, one of the French lawyers representing Abdeslam characterized Brancos actions as attempted fraud.
In 2018, L'Express stated that Branco was making false statements on his CV and elsewhere. After Branco defended himself from this accusation, L'Express provided additional information to prove their claims. Branco claimed to have been a lecturer at the École normale supérieure, but the school told L'Express that it refers to an exercise for students that every student of the school had to do. He also claimed "never having created a Skyblog", but L'Express provided captures of the blog he co-administered during his high-school years. The blog invited the pupils to rate the girls in the school according to their physique and use the word "blondasse" ("blondie").
Branco has previously claimed that he worked as a "special assistant" to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. Asked for a clarification by the French journal GQ France, the Court responded that Branco ""claims to have been the assistant of the Prosecutor (..) while in reality he was an intern (...) and then worked at the OTP Public Information Unit".
In 2018, he accused peacekeeping forces of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) of having been involved in a massacre in the city of Bangui - an accusation denied by MINUSCA - he was expelled from the country. He had been tasked as an independent expert for the United Nations with developing a strategy for investigations conducted by the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic. He was fired by the UN less than a week after his mission started.
Ongoing justice investigation for rape
In April 2021, a 20-year-old woman accused Branco of abusing her. She told the police she had felt threatened and coerced by Branco into a sexual relationship while she was under the influence of a drug they had taken together. Branco claimed the relation was consensual. He has been put under official criminal investigation on the count of rape in November 2021.
Self-promotion on Misplaced Pages
Branco has been editing his own Misplaced Pages pages for many years, attempting to embellish his biography. He makes his edits under multiple identities, using what are known as sockpuppets. He has also edited articles of others to "settle accounts" by portraying them in a negative light.
He once wrote a threatening letter to the employer of another Misplaced Pages editor, pretending to be a "Misplaced Pages administrator" named "Addas Karadas" and threatening legal action.
Bibliography
- Réponses à Hadopi (Paris, Capricci, 2011, ISBN 978-2918040255)
- De l'affaire Katanga au contrat social global: Un regard sur la Cour pénale internationale (Paris, 2015, LGDJ-IUV, 2015, ISBN 978-2370320582)
- L'ordre et le monde (Paris, Fayard, 2016, ISBN 978-2213680880), edited by Alain Badiou and Barbara Cassin
- D'après une image de Daesh (Paris, Lignes, 2017, ISBN 978-2-35526-164-0)
- Contre Macron (Edition Divergence, 2019, ISBN 979-1097088125)
- Crépuscule (Paris, Au Diable Vauvert, 2019) ISBN 979-1030702606
- Assange, l'antisouverain (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2020) ISBN 978-2204133074
References
- "Juan Branco, le radical chic qui veut la peau de la Macronie". 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Juan Branco, itinéraire d'un enfant gâté devenu activiste sans scrupule" (in French). 18 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ Tabet (March 2020). "Dans les réseaux de Juan Branco". Le Parisien (in French) (23487): 20–23.
- Student of the École Normale Supérieure ("Élève de l'École Normale Supérieure") is an administraative position that requires to having succeded a highly selective competitive exam, and provides a salary. Other people who are allowed studying at the École Normale Supérieure have the status of "auditeur libre".
- "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". 7 May 2019.
- "Juan Branco, un tiers maudit, deux tiers mondain". 10 June 2021.
- ^ "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?" (in French). 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue" (in French). Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- "Des grandes écoles aux "gilets jaunes" en passant par WikiLeaks : qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat proche de Piotr Pavlenski ?". Franceinfo (in French). 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Juan Branco : « Nous serons probablement demain l'un et l'autre des ennemis principiels" (in French). 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- "Crépuscule: Juan Branco découvre la lune".
- ""Peuplecratie" d'Ilvo Diamanti et Marc Lazar / "Crépuscule" de Juan Branco". 11 May 2019.
- ""Crépuscule» de Juan Branco, ce qu'il faut garder et ce qu'il faut jeter"". 26 April 2019.
- ""Crépuscule" de Juan Branco : Fausse enquête-révélations sur Macron et vrai gâchis". 6 June 2019.
- "Critique des médias, attaques sur Macron... On a lu "Crépuscule", le livre "censuré" de Juan Branco". 25 April 2019.
- "Qui a peur du "révolutionnaire" Juan Branco?". Le Temps. 17 April 2019.
- 2015 NSA Espionnage revelations
- ^ "Affaire Griveaux : Ce qu'il faut savoir sur Juan Branco". 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Les réponses de l'Express à Juan Branco". 29 April 2019.
- "Paris appeals court rules in favour of Paulo Branco on 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'". Screen. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
- "France: 11 convicted of cyberbullying teen who slammed Islam". Associated Press. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
- "Vidéos intimes de Griveaux : le rôle trouble de Juan Branco". lepoint.fr (in French). 14 February 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
- "France shrugs at sex scandals. But after a leaked video, this politician bowed out". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
- "Piotr Pavlenski : Dans les coulisses de sa soirée du 31 décembre 2019 à Paris". 29 February 2020.
- "Le bâtonnier de Paris a demandé à Branco de ne pas défendre Pavlenski". lepoint.fr (in French). 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-03-07.
- "Branco redevient avocat de Pavlenski et demande une expertise psychiatrique de Griveaux". LExpress.fr (in French). 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- "Griveaux : La justice refuse l'expertise psychiatrique demandée par Branco". LePoint.fr (in French). 2020-03-12. Retrieved 2020-04-01.
- "L'Ordre des avocats lance des poursuites disciplinaires contre Juan Branco". nouvelobs.com (in French). 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- "Quand Juan Branco écrivait à Salah Abdeslam". valeursactuelles.com. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020..
- "Juan Branco a écrit une lettre à Salah Abdeslam en 2016 pour le conseiller". rtl.fr. 22 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020..
- ""C'est un exercice illégal" : quand il sollicite le terroriste Abdeslam, Juan Branco... n'est pas encore avocat". marianne.net. 25 February 2020..
- "Affaire Griveaux : Qui est Juan Branco, l'avocat qui dit "avoir accompagné" Piotr Pavlenski ?". GQ (in French) (French ed.). 25 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21.
- Ross, Aaron (May 31, 2018). "U.N. fires Central Africa legal adviser who accused peacekeepers of massacre". Reuters.
- Kouassi, Carole (31 May 2018). "Centrafrique: la Minusca expulse un expert français qui l'accuse de crimes". fr.africanews.com (in French).
- ""J'avais peur qu'il devienne violent" : le récit glaçant de la jeune femme qui accuse Juan Branco de viol". ladepeche.fr. 2 May 2021.
- "L'avocat Juan Branco visé par une enquête pour viol". Le Monde.fr. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- Décugis, Jean-Michel (June 2021). "Visé par une enquête pour viol, l'avocat Juan Branco placé en garde à vue". Le Parisien. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- "Juan Branco mis en examen pour viol". lepoint.fr. 24 November 2021.
- "Sur Wikipédia, les vies rêvées de Juan Branco". 21 February 2020.
- "Juan Branco, l'avocat qui intrigue".
- Library of the Congress
- BNF reference
- Editorial description of L'ordre et le monde
- "Editorial description". 2020-02-25.